Today in the States, we recall a moment of darkness.
Hijacked Planes, crashing into towers.
Chaos, Death, Confusion, Pain, Anger.
The beginning of War.
Also Heroism and Bravery from individuals who stood tall and worked to Save Lives.
On a day like today, there is a tendency to have an extreme mix of emotions.
For some people it eases over time, mostly those who were not directly impacted.
For others, it hangs over them, and the sting returns, perhaps worse each time.
I think that we often see something tragic and horrifying, and our reaction is to say, "Never Again."
Unfortunately, even at a fairly young age, I've seen statements like that Broken.
Of course, we do not want to see these things happen again, yet they do.
In some ways, I think that Terrorism is something we will not see go away.
"Inevitable" is a word that comes to mind.
But this does not mean "Hopeless".
If we look at History, as a whole, we find that over time the world has become Safer.
Not perfect by any stretch of the Imagination, we have much yet to do, but Safer.
So, if we Understand that it is likely for Terror to strike again - here, there, or anywhere in the world - what can we do?
I think the key is to Reduce the Possible Damage and Decrease the Likelihood of things occurring.
How do we go about doing this?
There are a few things.
One thing is to purposefully look for Gaps in Safety.
If you can Identify a Gap in Safety and Fix It, you reduce the options available for Terror to Strike.
The Fewer Options for Striking, the More Difficult It Becomes to Enact Terror.
The Fewer Options for Striking, the Easier it is to Predict Their Next Target.
The Easier it is to Predict, the Easier it is to Prevent and Reduce Damage.
As Technology Grows and Changes, this will also have to Grow and Change, and so the work here is Never Complete.
Another thing is to Pay Attention to those Who Struggle the Most in Society and the World.
These Populations, from Small Communities to Entire Countries, are where Terror Begins and Grows.
Terror does this in Many Ways.
These Populations are often where Terror will attempt to Gain Power and Abuse these Populations.
It gives them a Base of Operation, a way to spread their Propaganda, and a way to get Funding.
Through their Abuse of the Populations, they often gain the Resources and Manpower to Enact Terror.
However, if you can find these Populations, and Help them, it takes Power Away from those who seek to Enact Terror.
If you however make the Situation Worse for these Populations, it only Gives Terror more Power.
The Saddest thing here is that Terror will Manipulate and Use these Abused Populations as Scapegoats and Shields.
This means that one must Tread Carefully when Terror is already Embedded within a place.
Perhaps the most Powerful thing we can do to Overcome Terror is to seek to Understand "Why" Terror Exists and Spreads.
Something that I have seen time and time again with Humanity is that we often Reject that which we Do Not Understand.
But the Rejection often Creates Problems.
It creates a Vicious Cycle of Rejection, Problems, further Rejection, further Problems, that Grows until...
Tragedy.
The Longer we Fail to Understand, the Larger the Problems become, until they Burst into Chaos and Pain.
However, we Break this Vicious Cycle through Understanding.
This does Not mean you must "Agree", which is completely Different from Understanding.
We can come to Understand Any and All Perspectives, but we must Learn to Choose Wisely on What We Stand For and Agree With.
But Understanding can often help us Find Solutions that Work.
This can create a Virtuous Cycle of Understanding, Solutions further Understanding, further Solutions until...
There is No Need for Terror.
It may not work "Perfectly" of course, but if we Do This Enough, we will Reduce the Opportunities for Terror to Exist.
With Reduced Opportunities, we Reduce the Collateral Potential.
Even if something is "Inevitable", because there will always be Bad Players, it Does Not mean we are without "Hope".
Terror tends to Spread where there is Hopelessness.
So, we Fight with Hope for a Better Future.